基于碳、氮稳定同位素研究胶州湾普氏栉虾虎鱼的摄食习性

普氏栉虾虎鱼属于小型暖温性底层鱼类,是胶州湾鱼类群落中的优势种之一,在胶州湾食物网和生态系统中发挥着重要作用.本文应用碳、氮稳定同位素技术,基于胶州湾渔业资源底拖网调查采集的样品,对普氏栉虾虎鱼的摄食习性进行了研究.结果表明: 胶州湾普氏栉虾虎鱼的δ¹⁵N值范围为11.24‰～13.99‰,平均值为(12.70±0.70)‰,δ¹³C值范围为-20.67‰～-18.46‰,平均值为(-19.08±0.36)‰;各体长组的营养级范围为3.49～3.76,平均营养级为(3.62±0.21),其δ¹⁵N值和营养级与体长呈显著负相关,δ¹³C值与体长无显著相关性.普氏栉虾虎鱼摄食的主要饵料生物类群为多毛类、虾类和软体动物,浮游动物和颗粒有机物(POM)的饵料贡献率较小.聚类分析结果表明,普氏栉虾虎鱼各体长组食物组成的相似性均在92%以上,相似性较高,说明其摄食习性随体长变化无明显差异.普氏栉虾虎鱼在胶州湾生态系统中属于中级消费者,其摄食各饵料生物类群比例的变化可能是其营养级与体长呈负相关关系的主要原因.     

稻虾田黄鳝的食物组成及其对克氏原螯虾捕食强度研究

文章研究了稻田黄鳝(Monopterus albus)天然饵料生物资源、稻田黄鳝对克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii)捕食选择及不同投喂策略下黄鳝对克氏原螯虾的捕食强度,旨在为构建与优化稻-虾-鳝综合种养模式提供依据。结果表明,稻田中黄鳝天然饵料生物种类丰富,达16种(属);克氏原螯虾是黄鳝最喜猎物,其次为米虾,再次为蚯蚓和水生寡毛类;稻田黄鳝自然生长期间,其胃和肠前端食物团中,克氏原螯虾重量百分比均显著高于其他猎物,其中8月份占比最大,达93.90%, 4月份占比最小,为76.85%;当克氏原螯虾为唯一食物时,每尾大规格成鳝(≥200 g)日均捕食量为(1.63±0.065) g;当克氏原螯虾、米虾和蚯蚓作为食物时,黄鳝主要捕食克氏原螯虾且不捕食蚯蚓,对三者的选择指数分别为0.066、–0.266和–1;若以克氏原螯虾、鱼糜-饲料为食物时,黄鳝主要摄食鱼糜-饲料,极少捕食克氏原螯虾,对两者的选择指数分别为–0.846和0.591。     

河蟹、克氏原螯虾、黄鳝摄食生态的研究

通过疫区围网养殖河蟹、黄鳝、克氏原螯虾试验,解剖观察食性表明:河蟹、黄鳝、克氏原螯虾都可以摄食钉螺、蚊幼虫.为进一步验证它们的这一食性及其摄食量,通过模拟网栏养殖模式的数据统计表明:河蟹每天每只能摄食蚊幼虫2.4尾、钉螺4.8个;克氏原螯虾每天每只能摄食蚊幼虫17.尾、钉螺0.9个;黄鳝每天每尾摄食蚊幼虫8.1尾、钉螺0.7个;河蟹、克氏原螯虾、黄鳝摄食生态的研究为生物灭螺、灭蚊提供新的途径.       

三峡库区小江库湾鱼类食物网的稳定C、N同位素分析

应用稳定碳(δ₁₃C)、氮(δ₁₅N)同位素探讨了三峡库区一级支流小江库湾枯水期(2010.7)和丰水期间(2010.12)鱼类食物网结构。研究结果显示：初级生产者颗粒有机物(POM)和固着藻类δ₁₃C、δ₁₅N值范围分别为-23.33‰～-21.05‰、-25.13‰～-24.54‰,3.99‰～6.25‰、4.64‰～4.79‰。POM和固着藻类构成了小江库湾食物网能量的主要来源,其中丰水期间陆生营养物质输入是其食物网能量来源的一种重要补充途径。小江库湾常见鱼类食性可分为杂食偏植物食性、杂食偏动物食性及动物食性3种营养类群。在不同时期(枯水期和丰水期)小江库湾鱼类食物网营养级长度均有三级并且存在4种主要营养路径,表明了在三峡工程运行初期小江库湾已经形成了相对稳定的食物网结构。研究为小江库湾鱼类资源管理及生态系统恢复提供了一定的指导意义。     

应用稳定同位素技术构建胶州湾食物网的连续营养谱

根据2011年春季和秋季在胶州湾进行的渔业资源综合调查,应用稳定同位素示踪技术,分析了胶州湾主要渔业生物的碳、氮稳定同位素比值(δ13C,δ15N),并计算其营养级,进而构建胶州湾食物网的连续营养谱。分析的生物种类包括浮游植物、浮游动物、大型无脊椎动物和鱼类,其生物量之和占总渔获量的95%。结果表明,胶州湾食物网的δ13C值范围是-25.63‰—-17.16‰,跨度为8.47‰,平均值为(-19.42±1.80)‰;δ15N值范围是4.15‰—14.11‰,跨度为9.96‰,平均值为(11.98±1.77)‰。胶州湾食物网中的主要生物种类可以划分为4个营养组群,即初级生产者、初级消费者、次级消费者以及顶级捕食者。δ15N值分析显示,胶州湾主要生物种类的营养级范围是1.10—4.03。与文献中基于胃含物分析计算的营养级相比较,37个种类中有29种的营养级分析结果基本一致(在0.5个营养级的误差范围之内)。因此,氮稳定同位素法是一种研究水生生态系统食物网营养位置的有效方法。其中,有8种鱼类的营养级与历史文献相比有所下降,分析方法的不同可能是原因之一,此外,这些鱼种摄食饵料生物营养级的下降也是导致其营养级降低的另一个主要原因。根据营养级计算的结果,构建了胶州湾食物网的连续营养谱,胶州湾食物网中,绝大多数生物种类都属于初级和中级肉食性种类。     

洞庭湖克氏原螯虾肌肉成分分析及品质特性分析

通过对洞庭湖克氏原螯虾肌肉成分进行分析, 并与其他产地克氏原螯虾进行比较, 进而较为科学的评定其品质特性。结果表明: 克氏原螯虾含肉率为20.21%, 水分和灰分含量分别为79.46%和1.17%, 粗蛋白和粗脂肪含量分别16.67%和0.77%; 对肌肉的质构特性分析表明克氏原螯虾肌肉硬度小, 易咀嚼; 肌肉中含18种氨基酸, 其中包括8种必需氨基酸, 必需氨基酸指数为80.02%, 氨基酸总含量为16.06%, 鲜味氨基酸含量为5.98%; 依据氨基酸化学评分, 克氏原螯虾的第一限制性氨基酸是含硫氨基酸(甲硫氨基酸和胱氨酸), 第二限制性氨基酸是缬氨酸。测定了克氏原螯虾肌肉中15种脂肪酸占肌肉鲜质量的含量, 其总脂肪酸含量为6.66‰, 其中不饱和脂肪酸含量为4.94‰, n-3与n-6多不饱和脂肪酸比值为1.73。综上所述, 洞庭湖克氏原螯虾具有较高的食用价值和养殖价值。     

应用碳氮稳定同位素技术研究江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ssp. sunameri)食性

稳定同位素技术已广泛地用于分析生态系统中食物网的食物来源和营养级关系,但在海洋哺乳动物食性方面应用较少。通过分析2012年4—6月在辽东湾沿岸海域搁浅而死亡的江豚样本和同时期(6月)取自辽东湾海域主要渔获物的碳氮稳定同位素比值,研究了江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ssp.sunameri)及其可能摄食饵料的碳氮稳定同位素组成。结果表明:江豚δ13C值为(-18.4±0.3)‰,δ15N值为(13.8±0.4)‰。28种可能生物饵料的δ13C值的范围为-19.5‰—-17.0‰,δ~(15)N值的范围为11.4‰—14.0‰。江豚的营养级为4.5,高于传统胃含物分析法的研究结果。28种测试生物的营养级位于3.8—4.6之间。江豚的食物来源主要以鱼类为主,对食物种类的喜食顺序为中上层鱼类中下层鱼类底层鱼类头足类虾类蟹类,其平均贡献率分别为43.9%、18.2%、13.1%、10.0%、8.8%、6.0%。江豚碳氮稳定同位素比值与体长无明显的线性关系,碳营养源较为稳定,氮营养源复杂多变。     

枸杞岛近岸海域食物网的稳定同位素分析

为了探明岛礁近岸海域食物网主要生物类群之间的营养关系,对2012年11月和2013年2月枸杞岛近岸的消费者及其潜在食物源的稳定碳、氮同位素组成进行了分析,并利用氮稳定同位素数据计算了消费者的营养级。结果表明:枸杞岛近岸海域消费者潜在食源浮游植物、POM、SOM和大型海藻的δ13C值范围为-21.7‰~-14.7‰,浮游动物、大型无脊椎动物和鱼类等消费者的δ13C值范围为-21.1‰~-13.7‰。初级生产者的C/N平均值为8.5,消费者的C/N平均值3.7,差异极显著(P0.001)。根据消费者的δ15N值,可将枸杞岛近岸海域的消费者分为滤食性浮游动物、食藻或碎屑的小型底栖动物、杂食性的大型无脊椎动物和鱼类以及凶猛的肉食性鱼类4大类,消费者共有4个营养等级,黑鲷的营养级最高为4.33。     

基于稳定同位素技术对长江口主要渔业生物营养级的研究

2014年11月至2015年10月在长江口采集到33种鱼类和9种无脊椎动物,分析了常见渔业生物的同位素组成与营养级结构。结果表明:长江口常见渔业生物的同位素变化幅度较大,其中鱼类的δ~(15)N和δ~(13)C值范围分别为9.26‰~15.39‰和-29.78‰~-14.25‰;无脊椎动物δ~(15)N和δ~(13)C值范围分别为7.73‰~13.53‰和-22.22‰~-14.84‰。以底栖动物毛蚶(Scapharca subcrenata)作为基线生物,计算出各物种相应的营养级,鱼类营养级范围为2.49~4.60,属于3个营养级,其中中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)营养级最高(4.60±0.02),杂食性鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)营养级最低(2.49±0.02);无脊椎动物营养级范围是2.00~3.84,属于2个营养级,中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)最高(3.84±0.02)。对棘头梅童鱼(Collichthys lucidus)、中国花鲈(Lateolabrax maculatus)和斑尾刺虾虎鱼(Acanthogobius ommaturus)3种鱼类不同体长的营养级进行分析,结果发现,随鱼体体长的增加营养级均有相应增大趋势,这可能是由于随着鱼类生长及其摄食习性发生变化导致其营养级也随之发生改变。本研究初步建立了长江口水域食物网连续营养谱,为渔业资源开发及保护提供了依据。     

利用碳氮稳定同位素技术分析东海银鲳食性

利用稳定同位素技术分析了东海银鲳(Pampus argenteus)及其可能摄食饵料的碳、氮稳定同位素比值,以期探讨东海银鲳可能的食物来源.结果表明:东海区银鲳平均碳(813C)和氮(δ15N)稳定同位素比值分别为-18.22‰、8.16‰,其可能摄食饵料的δ13C值变化范围为-17.33‰～-21.58‰,差值为4.25‰,δ15N值变化范围为3.89‰～7.96‰,差值为4.07‰;东海银鲳可能的食物来源主要为箭虫、虾类、水母类、头足类、仔稚鱼和浮游动物等,其中箭虫为主要可能的食物来源,其贡献率为24%～78%,平均贡献率为57%;银鲳可能摄食的其他饵料中,贡献率从大到小依次为虾类、水母类、头足类、仔稚鱼、＞1000 μm浮游动物、500～1000 μm浮游动物和100～500 μm浮游动物,其平均贡献率分别为11.8%、8.4%、7.1%、5.0%、4.9%、3.2%和2.6%.由以上结果可知,银鲳是一种广食性鱼类,其饵料种类较多,碳和氮的来源均较为复杂.     

应用稳定同位素研究广西东方洞食物网结构和营养级关系

稳定性同位素技术已经成为研究生态系统食物网结构和营养级关系及其动态变化的重要手段。应用稳定同位素技术(δ13C和δ15N)研究了东风洞的食物网结构和营养级关系。研究结果表明,东风洞主要为腐食食物链,由于在洞穴内黑暗带中无光照也无植物生长,所以碳源主要为东风洞中的土壤有机质,作为第一营养级;主要摄食关系为马陆与土壤有机物质,螺类与土壤有机物质等;在该洞生态系统中,将3种马陆直接作为初级消费者,以隅蛛和其它马陆平均值之间的差值(2.04‰)作为东风洞食物网稳定氮同位素的富集因子。根据营养级模型可知,马陆类群、细长钻螺等土壤动物,裸灶螽和涂闪夜蛾形成第二营养级,即初级消费者;第三营养级包括蜘蛛类、盲蛛、地蜈蚣以及黑眶蟾蜍,为次级消费者。     

Linking aboveground and belowground food webs through carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) have been used for more than two decades in analyses of food web structure. The utility of isotope ratio measurements is based on the observation that consumer δ¹³C values are similar (<1‰ difference) to those of their diet, while consumer δ¹⁵N values are about 3‰ higher than those of their diet. The technique has been applied most often to aquatic and aboveground terrestrial food webs. However, few isotope studies have examined terrestrial food web structure that includes both above- and belowground (detrital) components. Here, we review factors that may influence isotopic signatures of terrestrial consumers in above- and belowground systems. In particular, we emphasize variations in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in belowground systems, e.g., enrichment of ¹³C and ¹⁵N in soil organic matter (likely related to soil microbial metabolism). These enrichments should be associated with the high ¹³C (~3‰) enrichment in belowground consumers relative to litter and soil organic matter and with the large variation in δ¹⁵N (~6‰) of the consumers. Because such enrichment and variation are much greater than the trophic enrichment generally used to estimate consumer trophic positions, and because many general predators are considered dependent on energy and material flows from belowground, the isotopic variation in belowground systems should be taken into account in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N analyses of terrestrial food webs. Meanwhile, by measuring the δ¹³C of key predators, the linkage between above- and belowground systems could be estimated based on observed differences in δ¹³C of primary producers, detritivores and predators. Furthermore, radiocarbon (¹⁴C) measurements will allow the direct estimation of the dependence of predators on the belowground systems.     

大连海域食物网连续营养谱

根据2008年1月—2017年6月在大连海域收集的因搁浅、误捕及救助无效而死亡的斑海豹、江豚、小须鲸等海洋哺乳动物及2016年秋季和2017年春季在该海域进行的渔业资源调查,应用稳定同位素技术,分析了大连海域海洋哺乳动物及主要生物样品的碳、氮稳定同位素比值(δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N),并计算其营养级,进而构建大连海域食物网的连续营养谱.结果表明: 大连海域食物网的δ¹⁵N值范围为8.0‰～14.7‰,δ¹³C值范围为-21.1‰～-16.7‰.主要生物种类可划分为初级消费者、次级消费者及顶级捕食者3个营养组群.δ¹⁵N值分析显示,主要生物种类的营养级范围为2.63～4.59,其中,小须鲸、江豚、斑海豹的营养级依次为3.16、4.11、4.25,棘皮动物为3.24～3.84,头足类为3.81～3.93,腹足类为3.65～4.13,双壳类为2.63～3.15,甲壳类为3.58～4.12,鱼类为3.20～4.59.营养结构特征显示,初级消费者主要为双壳类,次级消费者主要为小须鲸、头足类、棘皮类、腹足类、甲壳类,顶级捕食者主要为江豚、斑海豹、鱼类.随着江豚体长的增加,δ¹⁵N值有增大趋势,说明随着江豚生长和摄食能力的增强,其摄食的食物趋向于更高营养层次的生物.研究建立了大连海域食物网的连续营养谱,可以为海洋哺乳动物和渔业资源的保护提供依据.     

Use of a δ13C–δ15N relationship to determine animal trophic positions in a tropical Australian estuarine wetland

Stable isotope composition of organisms from different trophic groups collected from a semi‐isolated wetland pool in the Ross River estuary, northern Australia, was analysed to determine if there was a consistent relationship between δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N and trophic level that could be used to assign trophic positions. A strong linear negative relationship between δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N was detected for the three trophic levels considered (primary producers, primary consumers and secondary consumers). This relationship was consistent among trophic levels, differing only in height, that is, on δ¹⁵N values, which indicate trophic positions. A difference of 3.6–3.8‰ between trophic levels was present, suggesting a δ¹⁵N fractionation of approximately 3.7‰, a value slightly higher than the commonly assumed δ¹⁵N fractionation of approximately 3.4‰. The relationship between δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N was similar for invertebrate and fish primary consumers, indicating similar δ¹⁵N trophic fractionation for both groups, meaning trophic positions and trophic length could be reliably calculated based on either invertebrates or fish.     

Use of stable isotopes to understand food webs in Macao wetlands

In this study, components of the food-web in Macao wetlands were quantified using stable isotope ratio techniques based on carbon and nitrogen values. The δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of particulate organic matter (δ¹³C_POM and δ¹⁵N_POM, respectively) ranged from ?30.64 ± 1.0 to ?28.1 ± 0.7 ‰, and from ?1.11 ± 0.8 to 3.98 ± 0.7 ‰, respectively. The δ¹³C values of consumer species ranged from ?33.94 to ?16.92 ‰, showing a wide range from lower values in a freshwater lake and inner bay to higher values in a mangrove forest. The distinct dietary habits of consumer species and the location-specific food source composition were the main factors affecting the δ¹³C values. The consumer ¹⁵N-isotope enrichment values suggested that there were three trophic levels; primary, secondary, and tertiary. The primary consumer trophic level was represented by freshwater herbivorous gastropods, filter-feeding bivalves, and plankton-feeding fish, with a mean δ¹⁵N value of 5.052 ‰. The secondary consumer level included four deposit-feeding fish species distributed in Fai Chi Kei Bay and deposit-feeding gastropods in the Lotus Flower Bridge flat, with a mean δ¹⁵N value of 6.794 ‰. The tertiary consumers group consisted of four crab species, one shrimp species, and four fish species in the Lotus Flower Bridge Flat, with a mean δ¹⁵N value of 13.473 ‰. Their diet mainly comprised organic debris, bottom fauna, and rotten animal tissues. This study confirms the applicability of the isotopic approach in food web studies.     

Inundation timing,more than duration,affects the community structure of California vernal pool mesocosms

The food source utilization and trophic relationship of the fish assemblage in the Red River mangrove ecosystem, Vietnam were examined using dual isotope analysis. The carbon and nitrogen stable isotope signatures of 23 fish species ranged from ?24.0 to ?15.7‰ and from 8.8 to 15.5‰, respectively. Cluster analysis based on the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N signatures clearly separated the mangrove fish into five feeding groups, representing detritivores, omnivores, piscivores, zoobenthivores, and zooplanktivores, which concurred with the dietary information. The results suggested that mangrove carbon contributed a small proportion in the diets of the mangrove fish, with dominant food sources coming from benthic invertebrates, including ocypodid and grapsid crabs, penaeid shrimps, bivalves, gastropods, and polychaetes. The δ¹⁵N values showed that the food web structure may be divided into different trophic levels (TLs). The lowest TLs associated with Liza macrolepis, Mugil cephalus, and Periophthalmus modestus; 18 fish species had TLs between 3.0 and 3.8; and Pennahia argentata had the highest TL (c. 4.0).     

南海中西部海域鸢乌贼中型群和微型群的营养生态位

为了深入了解南海鸢乌贼不同种群的碳氮稳定同位素特征及营养生态位之间的关系,于2017年8月在南海中西部海域采集其中型群和微型群样品,分析不同胴长组的碳氮稳定同位素值和营养级变化,并比较其营养生态位差异.结果表明:中型群鸢乌贼的δ^13C范围在-19.54‰^-18.10‰,δ^15N范围在7.79‰~9.45‰,营养级范围在2.72~3.21,平均营养级为2.90;微型群鸢乌贼的δ^13C范围为-19.69‰^-18.43‰,δ^15N范围为8.02‰~8.99‰,营养级范围为2.79~3.08,平均营养级为2.91.两个鸢乌贼种群间δ^13C差异不显著,δ^15N差异显著.胴长显著影响了鸢乌贼的δ^13C和δ^15N值,且随着胴长的增大,δ^15N值有增大的趋势.中型群鸢乌贼的营养生态位宽幅和营养级的多样性程度都大于微型群.     

川东南小型水库营养结构特征的稳定C、N同位素分析

为了解我国水库生态系统营养结构特征, 研究应用稳定同位素技术分析了四川省东南部的典型小型水库松林水库中不同水生生物碳、氮稳定性同位素比值。基于Bayesian混合模型(SIAR)分析了不同消费者基础碳来源, 并计算了δ13C–δ15N同位素生态位中6个营养结构量化指标。结果表明: 调查期间松林水库处于富营养化状态; 初级生产者POM(主要成分为浮游藻类)、固着藻类、喜旱莲子草Alternanthera philoxeroides和水蓼Polygonum hydropiper的δ13C值范围为–29.20‰—18.81‰, δ15N值范围为4.01‰—12.73‰; 其中POM和固着藻类是多数消费者的主要碳源; 松林水库食物网营养级长度为3级, 以杂食性鱼类为优势类群并存在营养冗余现象, 暗示了该生态系统鱼类群落结构的相对稳定性; 入侵物种福寿螺Pomacea lineata、罗非鱼Oreochromis spp.与土著物种铜锈环棱螺Bellamya aeruginosa、鲫Carassius auratus等之间存在明显的同位素生态位重叠现象。建议加强水生生物资源管理, 减少外来物种入侵对当地土著物种的保护具有重要意义。     

Rescaling the trophic structure of marine food webs

Measures of trophic position (TP) are critical for understanding food web interactions and human‐mediated ecosystem disturbance. Nitrogen stable isotopes (δ¹⁵N) provide a powerful tool to estimate TP but are limited by a pragmatic assumption that isotope discrimination is constant (change in δ¹⁵N between predator and prey, Δ¹⁵N = 3.4‰), resulting in an additive framework that omits known Δ¹⁵N variation. Through meta‐analysis, we determine narrowing discrimination from an empirical linear relationship between experimental Δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁵N values of prey consumed. The resulting scaled Δ¹⁵N framework estimated reliable TPs of zooplanktivores to tertiary piscivores congruent with known feeding relationships that radically alters the conventional structure of marine food webs. Apex predator TP estimates were markedly higher than currently assumed by whole‐ecosystem models, indicating perceived food webs have been truncated and species‐interactions over simplified. The scaled Δ¹⁵N framework will greatly improve the accuracy of trophic estimates widely used in ecosystem‐based management.     

Structure of tropical river food webs revealed by stable isotope ratios

Fish assemblages in tropical river food webs are characterized by high taxonomic diversity, diverse foraging modes, omnivory, and an abundance of detritivores. Feeding links are complex and modified by hydrologic seasonality and system productivity. These properties make it difficult to generalize about feeding relationships and to identify dominant linkages of energy flow. We analyzed the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of 276 fishes and other food web components living in four Venezuelan rivers that differed in basal food resources to determine 1) whether fish trophic guilds integrated food resources in a predictable fashion, thereby providing similar trophic resolution as individual species, 2) whether food chain length differed with system productivity, and 3) how omnivory and detritivory influenced trophic structure within these food webs. Fishes were grouped into four trophic guilds (herbivores, detritivores/algivores, omnivores, piscivores) based on literature reports and external morphological characteristics. Results of discriminant function analyses showed that isotope data were effective at reclassifying individual fish into their pre-identified trophic category. Nutrient-poor, black-water rivers showed greater compartmentalization in isotope values than more productive rivers, leading to greater reclassification success. In three out of four food webs, omnivores were more often misclassified than other trophic groups, reflecting the diverse food sources they assimilated. When fish δ¹⁵N values were used to estimate species position in the trophic hierarchy, top piscivores in nutrient-poor rivers had higher trophic positions than those in more productive rivers. This was in contrast to our expectation that productive systems would promote longer food chains. Although isotope ratios could not resolve species-level feeding pathways, they did reveal how top consumers integrate isotopic variability occurring lower in the food web. Top piscivores, regardless of species, had carbon and nitrogen profiles less variable than other trophic groups.